By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 28: Organiser of a planned peaceful assembly over the names Bandar Riyal and the proposed new State constituency of N23 Samarindah has called on the Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) and local elected representatives to send representatives to attend the gathering and receive a memorandum from the organisers.
Organising chairman Peter John Jaban said the memorandum would convey the community’s objections and concerns over the names, which he said were linked to broader issues of history, identity and heritage.
He said the organisers had officially invited the MPKS chairman or a representative to attend the assembly and receive the memorandum, with copies of the invitation also sent to Kota Samarahan Resident, Stakan assemblyman Datuk Hamzah Brahim and Kota Samarahan MP Datuk Rubiah Wang.
“We are asking for something basic: for a representative to attend, receive the memorandum and listen to the concerns of the people,” he said in a statement today.
Peter John said the objection to the name Bandar Riyal was not new, pointing out that members of the local community had raised similar concerns in 2015 and organised a protest led by the late Cobold John.
He said the latest assembly was also prompted by the proposed name N23 Samarindah, which had renewed concerns among some members of the community over the historical identity and heritage of Merdang.
Peter John said the organisers had notified and coordinated with the relevant police authorities and stressed that the gathering would be conducted peacefully and responsibly.
He said the memorandum would also be submitted to the relevant authorities, with copies to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and the Sarawak Premier’s Office.
According to Peter John, MPKS had informed the organisers in a letter received today that the council did not have the capacity to attend the assembly and receive the memorandum.
He said the organisers were disappointed with the response, but hoped the council would reconsider and appoint a representative to meet the participants.
“This is not simply about receiving a memorandum. It is about providing an opportunity for the authorities to hear directly from members of the community,” he said.
Peter John also urged the Kota Samarahan Resident and the area’s elected representatives to send representatives to the assembly, saying their attendance would demonstrate that the concerns raised by constituents were being heard.
He stressed that the gathering was not intended to create conflict, but to provide a platform for the community to express its concerns through a peaceful and democratic process.
“The people have a right to raise concerns about matters affecting their community, identity and heritage, and we hope the authorities will provide an opportunity for meaningful engagement,” he said.
Peter John said representatives from non-governmental organisations and civil society groups were also expected to attend and monitor the assembly.
He added that the organisers would continue to pursue the matter through peaceful and lawful means should their concerns remain unresolved.
“We want to make one thing absolutely clear. This is not about hatred. This is not about violence. This is about democracy. This is about accountability. This is about the fundamental right of the people to participate in matters affecting their community, identity and future,” he added. — DayakDaily
